MANILA, Philippines - Netizens particularly the supporters of the tough-talking Davao City Mayor and now presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte slammed the alleged Php 20 million worth of anti-Duterte advertisement on ABS-CBN.

On Thursday night, May 5, the controversial political ad paid for by Senator Antonio Trillanes purportedly to tarnish reputation of Duterte has started airing on the Kapamilya Network.

Netizens also pointed out child exploitation on the half-minute commercial.

The video shows children questioning Duterte's style of leadership by recalling some of the debatable issues of the Davao Mayor including the alleged killing of criminals, cursing the pope, supporting NPAs and uttering rape joke.

In a report by Inquirer, Cayetano claimed that his source said the deal was rejected by other TV networks, but ABS-CBN’s ethics committee allegedly “blindly approved” the offer.

“They are so desperate that, aside from the full barrage of trimedia attacks against Mayor Duterte, they are now trying to push for millions in advertisements in major networks in the last few days of the campaign,” Cayetano said.

ABS-CBN releases statement

In a statement, ABS-CBN said it had nothing to do with the production of the political ad, and that it was "duty bound to air a legitimate ad."

"The controversial political advertisement being talked about in social media, which aired on ABS-CBN, was produced and paid for by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV. Prior to the airing, ABS-CBN’s ethics committee reviewed the content of the material, which complies with the requirements of pertinent election laws," the company said.

"By airing the said commercial, ABS-CBN is being consistent with COMELEC guidelines, which prohibit radio or television stations to discriminate in the sale of air time against any political party or candidate. We are duty bound to air a legitimate ad," the television giant added.

Duterte keeps lead on surveys

Duterte maintained wide lead in the latest Pulse Asia survey commissioned by ABS-CBN and was published on Wednesday, May 4. The PDP-Laban standard bearer obtained a rating of 33% in the survey conducted from April 26 to 29 among 4,000 registered voters across the country.

In the final Laylo 2016 pre-election survey conducted for The Standard, Duterte got 32.43% in the nationwide poll survey conducted between April 27 and May 1, retaining his lead against other presidential candidates.

INC backs Duterte

On Wednesday night, influential religious group Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) officially endorsed Digong for president and running-mate Bongbong Marcos for the May 9 elections.

"Their names are contained in sample ballots that are distributed to INC members all over the country," INC-run Eagle News said.

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